When the gal at the front desk informed my SiL after our first hike that there was a Great Horned Owl in one of the cliffs, it was inevitable that we would certainly go on another hike the next day.
Not sure just exactly what time we left our Cliff House, but it was before breakfast, but not before coffee.
Once again, we headed DOWN the hill (and I'm thinking this hill isn't going to be any less steep coming back up than it was yesterday).
Guess which trail we took.
Both my daughter and I were hoping it was the one without any snakes.
Yup.
It was the Waterfall Trail.
And this is the cliff where the Great Horned Owl dwells.
But in order to have the best vantage point for viewing, one must continue walking, slipping, sliding on one's derriere to make it to the bottom of this canyon.
And yes, you don't have to remind me, I have on Uggs !
Not the best footwear for this type activity.
Please notice he is proceeding down the hill.
Please notice her body language.
Please notice he is continuing down the hill.
Please notice she has not moved an inch.
Please notice the look on her face.
The photo does not do the incline justice !
Nor does it show the rocks that tend to roll under the feet when stepped on.
This photo should explain how steep this hill really is.
And I'm still thinking, "We have to climb UP this hill at some point in our day."
The owl is there.
Hint: It's on the lower crevice.
See it ?
Now, you are thinking...is this as close a shot as you're going to get ?
This is as close a shot as I can get with my lens.
So, if you're now thinking it's not a close-up enough shot, feel free to mail me a new and bigger and better lens. (Canon)
Look very carefully, because the next photo has the owl circled in red.
We waited for quite some time, hoping it would take flight, but no such luck.
We finally made it back up that hill without incident to more solid, level ground.
The photos just don't do the views justice.
Scat ?
Where's Waldo and his buddy ?
The layers and layers and layers in the photo above have something to do with THIS.
This is when you need HansMan, the geologist to explain.
Finally, back to civilization among the grapevines and their shadows.
There are yurts nestled in and among the vineyards.
Even though they are equipped with indoor bathrooms, we chose to stay in a Cliff House.
After a long hike. . .
. . . it was time to visit the Cave B Winery for a little taste of their grape juice.
This was our 'score card.'
Back to the main lodge to check out and continue our adventure elsewhere.
There are some very special memories of this place !
There have been several posts here about Becky Hobbs, but just in case you might have missed them, let me reintroduce her.
Picture a couple of junior high kids walking home together from the shopping center in a small Oklahoma town in the 1960's. She has just purchased "I Wanna Hold Your Hand."
The young man tries to impress the young lady who is a talented musician and is already composing songs.
He says, "You know the Beatles will never make it."
She smiles.
Fast forward to today. Those two adults still laugh about his prediction and are still good friends.
And, Becky has continued to write hit songs . . . Angels Among Us, one of Alabama's greatest hits, George on the Jukebox, one of her hits. Becky has also written songs recorded by Conway Twitty, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, Emmylou Harris, Helen Reddy, John Anderson, Wanda Jackson, , Janie Fricke, Lacy J. Dalton, Moe Bandy, Shelly West, Helen Reddy, Shirley Bassey, Jane Oliver, Ken Mellons. . . just to name a few.
In 1988, Becky's co-written song "You Are," recorded by Glen Campbell and Emmylou Harris, was nominated for a Grammy in the "Best Country & Western Vocal Performance -Duet category.
It was my pleasure to finally meet Becky several years ago in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, at the Price Tower. That same town small town mentioned above.
My day had started about 6:00 a.m. preparing for a birthday party. It almost ended with me being dead-dog tired in bed, and certainly not expecting to meet theHansMan's old flame who now lives in Nashville.
There was not one inch of makeup on my face, my hair was still wet from the shower, and I had on a pair of 'men's-cut-pajamas' with a pattern that made me look like I had been attacked by a leopard . . . with the leopard winning.
The conversation went something like this:
Him: Come on. Get out of bed. We're going to have a glass of wine with Becky.
Me: No, WE'RE not.
Him: She's waiting for us. Come on.
Me: I'm in my pajamas.
Him: She won't care.
Me: I care.
Him: She'll never notice.
Me: Is she blind ?
Him: No. She's nice and she'll understand that you're tired and were already in bed and that I dragged you out of bed and that you don't always look this bad.
Me: Thanks.
So, we knocked on Becky's door and she greeted us looking like she had stepped out of a band box. . . blonde hair perfectly coiffed, a gorgeous 'cowgirl' outfit, complete with boots. . . and make-up.
Did I mention I was in my pajamas and was barefoot ?
theHansMan's old flame couldn't have been any sweeter, and I wouldn't trade that memory for anything. We sat and had a glass of wine and enjoyed the view of Bartlesville from the Price Tower.
Becky's latest album, Nanyehi, Beloved Woman of the Cherokee, which she considers “her life’s work” is a tribute to her great Cherokee heritage. It was inspired by the life of her Fifth Great-grandmother, Nancy Ward (1738-1822), who went to battle at age seventeen and led the Cherokee to victory. After being honored as a War Woman, she advocated for peace and forgiveness over war and anger, and rose to the highest rank possible for a Cherokee woman.
One of my favorite songs on that album is Pale Moon.
Listen to the words very carefully. Some of the most beautiful lyrics EVER !
Michelle Honaker is singing in the first video.
Becky is singing in the second video . . .
The World Premiere of Nanyehi - Beloved Woman of the Cherokee:
Hartwell,Georgia Lonnie Burns Fine Arts Center April 14-29, 2o12 Reserve Tickets: 706-376-7397 Song Writer: Becky Hobbs Director/Co-Writer: Nick Sweet
"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." ---Red Auerbach
"A painter paints pictures on canvas. But a musician paints pictures on silence." ---Leopold Stukowski
"I believe there are angels among us, sent down to us from somewhere up above. They come to you and me in our darkest hour, to show us how to live, to teach us how to give, to guide us with the light of love." ---Becky Hobbs
I took this photo of The Beckaroo at Grand Junction's Country Jam in 2007.
It's always very tiring to hunt all those brightly colored Easter eggs, so what better place to relax than in a sky chair.
Even though the sky chairs are a relaxing place to 'hang out,' Benjamin found it necessary to go check on the flowers.
He finds it necessary to get up close and personal.
Adds a 'wholenother' dimension to having a 'green thumb.'
In Benjamin's case . . . a 'green hand.'
The day just wouldn't have been complete without eating a Peep that was sent by Uncle Dexie and Aunt Leenie. Actually, they sent SIXTY of those yellow-marshmallowy tweets treats.
Slowing down, so investigating what's in the treasure chests requires lying down.
Someone had the idea to go watch a movie in the Good Times Van.
Say cheese !
Seems as though there are those who have quirky ideas of what that means.
Benjamin decides to leave the adults and dogs in the back to watch the movie.
He has commandeered the van.
When this shot was taken, Benjamin very seriously looked at me and said, "I'll have a hamburger and a sweet tea . . . and an order of chicken nuggets."
Just for clarification . . . Benjamin is my little cousin. Actually, he is my little second cousin. His dad's mom and my dad are sister and brother.
A couple of new visitors sent messages asking if he was mine and theHansMan's little boy.
Made me giggle !
It is necessary to have the right equipment in which to place all the Easter eggs.
In this case, here we have a floppy plush basket that looks like a cross between a duck and a cow.
When you live in the desert, there are no clumps of lush green grass for the Easter Bunny to hide the eggs.
Can you spot the egg ? Benjamin already has his eye on it.
Didn't take him long to get the hang of spotting those colorful eggs.
Wonder what color chicken lays an orange egg ?
Just can't figure out why dad is so concerned about Benjamin having a dirty face.
Can you ?
This particular egg just happens to match his shirt.
Either we have a very large robin laying eggs on the bird feeder, or the Easter Bunny thinks it's funny to hide eggs way above the sight level of the child looking for the eggs.
Didn't take him long to spot it, though.
You have to run fast . . .
. . . if you don't want June Bug to get to the yellow egg first.
Sometimes it's necessary to enlist the help of a taller human to help retrieve the higher up eggs.
And now that we've transferred all the eggs into a sturdier basket . . .
After all the jumpjumpjumping, it was time to color the eggs.
Inadvertently . . . Benjamin ended up a bit colorful, too.
Pops was in charge.
Those are four words that can instill fear in any parent.
Some of these photos need no caption at all.
Just use your imagination as to what you think is going on in that two-year old's mind.
But, one thing to notice is the transformation of Benjamin's face and hands into a rainbow-type-effect.
After much discussion among the adults about how best to let Benjamin 'dunk' the eggs, Pops decided that using tongs might be best. Here, he demonstrates the procedure.
Now, it's Benjamin's turn to try the tongs.
Pops intervenes . . . and . . .
. . . re-explains.
Keep in mind: Benjamin is TWO !
He is determined to make these things works as evidenced by the seriousness on his face.
First egg dunked, and Benjamin is delighted !
Forget the tongs. Where does this one go ?
One must be very patient while 'soaking' eggs.
Especially, when they don't all fit into the plastic containers.
How many colors do you see ?
Wow ! That's one yellow egg !
Pops has now decided to use one of those little wire thingys.
Benjamin has a much better idea.
Notice any new colors on the face ?
Well, that little wire thingy looked like fun, so Benjamin decides to try it.
Notice anything about this egg ?
It has a Humpty-Dumpty-kind-of look-about-it.
First dozen.
Dunked !
It doesn't take Benjamin long to get the hang of this egg coloring concept.
The fingers still work better than tongs or wire thingys.
Did you notice the difference in the colors of his fingers in the two photos above ?
And, did you notice his fingers are the exact-same color as the egg he's holding ?
Makes you wonder if Pops remembered to boil them, doesn't it ?
